Aunt: Mom charged with stabbing daughter lost job, 'snapped'

OKLAHOMA CITY – A Tulsa woman charged with stabbing her 11-year-old daughter 50 to 70 times, hitting her in the head with a pickaxe, then setting their home on fire recently lost her job and then "snapped" after being prevented from attending her son's graduation, according to the woman's aunt.

Taheerah Ahmad, 39, attacked the girl Monday and also bound and gagged two younger daughters who managed to escape and were found unharmed, according to a police.

The 11-year-old was in "very critical" condition, police Officer Jeanne MacKenzie said Friday.

Ahmad, who was arrested Tuesday in Tulsa with one of the daughters, who had been reported as missing, remains in custody on complaints of arson, child abuse and assault and battery with the intent to kill.